The Truth about Medium: Extraordinary Experiments with the Real Allison DuBois of NBC's Medium and Other Remarkable Psychics

by William L. Simon and Gary E. Schwartz

Every Monday night millions of Americans tune into Medium , NBC's new hit drama featuring Allison DuBois, an ordinary woman who helps police solve baffling crimes through her ability to communicate... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571744592
• ISBN13: 9781571744593
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
• Length: 149 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Read this book.. Not the reviews!!!!

I enjoyed this book. I cannot understand why some reviewers are upset that Allison may get a bigger client list from the show medium. So what if she is portrayed by an actress on TV and it is slightly dramatized. Her work is important. Dr Schwartz 's work is important. It just means she gets to help more people. Same with this book. The more people know how great the science is the better understanding of this work will spread and more people will be helped. You should buy this book because it shows how accurate Allison is. It also shows that science should continue as well.

Hooray for this Book

The back stories of what we see on TV is vitally important and too- often not told by public relations people from the networks. Dr. Schwartz and William Simon really know what Alison DuBois can and cannot do. For those of us who are "hooked" on this TV show and wonder about the lady involved---the REAL lady -- this is a must-read book. These authors include other information to help people like me understand what is real and what is not. This is an important book and so precisely put together. Congratulations, I say. to the authors and publisher.

Real Truth

At first glance, the title of this book is a little confusing as one is inclined to wonder why "Medium" is singular. However, the subtitle explains that the reference is to NBC's hit drama, Medium, based on the life of true-life medium Allison DuBois. And while the title also suggests an exposé of some kind, it is definitely not that, although the author points out that the television program is not completely based on fact. Dr. Gary Schwartz, the author, is the director of the Human Energy Systems Laboratory at the University of Arizona. In his 2002 book, The Afterlife Experiments, he detailed his early research with mediums, including John Edward, who hosted a popular television program, Crossing Over, for several years. This book picks up where Schwartz left off in the 2002 book, discussing his continuing research with other mediums, including DuBois. Schwartz clearly validates and praises DuBois and the other mediums discussed in the book. "As far as I can tell, they have an extraordinary and genuine gift," he writes. "They can do specific things with their minds - getting accurate information about deceased loved ones - that I had been educated to believe was impossible." Schwartz explains how he first met DuBois and her then medium-mentor, Catherine Yunt, and how he initially put them to the test. He also discusses subsequent experiments, including one with popular spiritual author Deepak Chopra and another in which the late Princess Diana seems to have communicated to a British journalist who had been a friend when Lady Di was alive. While recognizing that much of what he relates in the book will exceed the "boggle threshold" of many readers and will result in more hissing from his cat-like colleagues, Schwartz courageously pushes on in the pursuit of truth, pointing out that if we become more "survival-minded" we can find new meaning in life. While admitting that his current experiments do not provide definitive proof of survival of consciousness after death, he concludes that the available evidence is consistent with survival. Schwartz concludes the book with a prediction that "those of us who hunger for understanding the existence of life and the meaning of love will at some point be able to celebrate the reality of spirit and soul, and the magnificent intelligence of a universe that has equipped our species with the potential to discover scientifically this fundamental spiritual truth." As Schwartz states in the Introduction, if you already believe in survival of consciousness after death, the book "will make your heart smile." If you don't believe in survival and are befogged and cramped with lifelong materialistic prejudices, you'll probably just get a headache, assuming you take the time to read it. If, however, if you don't believe in survival but are open-minded, you may very well find yourself rethinking your earlier position. Unfortunately, you'll likely

A huge flaw in this book.

The first time I read this book, I gave it 5 stars. Unfortunately I can't change that. Since then I saw something I missed in the book the first time that would have taken it down to 1 or, at the most, 2 stars for entertainment only. One pages 25 and 26, Dr. Schwartz lists the names of mediums he claims to have tested and found to be genuine. I'm familiar with many of them and agree about those I know, except for the last name. It was a huge shock to see that name and an insult to the other people on the list. I know her and have met her several times. She is in no way a true medium and it would have been quickly discovered if she had been tested. Any research on her history would have shown she is an actress and a celebrity look-alike. She has studied the mannerisims of people like Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson and appeared on television looking and sounding like them. Her latest acting career is that of playing a psychic medium. There is a medium near the top of that list that she has watched and studied intensely as many times as she could. She learned her movements and phrases for her newest act from him. I've seen her doing it in person. If Dr. Schwartz had researched her at all, he would have discovered she is not real. She has removed most links to her former acting parts but some can still be found. Having her name on that prestigious list is now going to send more unsuspecting and grieving victims to her. She has finally found an acting job that will support her financially. Dr. Schwartz is not a scientist in this book, he is a fan. I am angry and very disappointed with him.